Obama defends position to nominate Supreme Court judge

Speaking at a press conference in California, Obama offered a peek at the kind of political arguments that could rain down on Republican presidential candidates and senators up for reelection if they refuse to vote on his nominee.

On Tuesday, Obama downplayed his shift.

There were hints that at least some Republicans might come around.

“Part of problem we have here is we have gotten accustomed to how obstructionist the Senate has become when it comes to nominations”, Obama said this afternoon, calling it “a measure of how, unfortunately, venom and rancor in Washington have prevented us from getting work done”.

“It’s is the one court in the land where we would expect (elected officials) to rise above day-to-day politics”, he said. “My wife, Nancy, and I will attend his services at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception”.

Asked Wednesday whether McConnell and others were wrong to politicize Scalia’s death, Collins said she would not have handled it the same way, but she also said “both sides of the aisle”, were engaging in politics.

“I would wait until the nominee is made before I would make any decisions”, said Grassley, who serves as the chair of the Senate’s judiciary committee, according to the New York Times.

“I’m amused when I hear people who claim to be strict interpreters of the Const suddenly reading into it a whole series of provisions that are not there”, Obama said.

Mason: Thank you, Mr. President. He referenced 14 other pending nominations he has submitted to lawmakers.

First commenting on the summit, he then took questions – mostly centering on the Supreme Court.

McConnell has shown no signs of shifting his opposition, and several lawmakers facing heated elections have backed him up.

The White House said it would name a nominee sometime after the Senate returns February 22 from recess.

Democratic leaders, including Obama and Democratic Party presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Sen. “There are plenty of judges (who) are on high courts already who have had unanimous support of the Republicans”. He said he’d pick someone that would pass muster for honor and integrity even among ideological opponents. He noted Tuesday that the U.S. Constitution calls for presidents to nominate Supreme Court justices and for the Senate to “advise and consent” on a nomination, with nothing saying nominations should not be considered in a presidential election year.